WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram among apps cut from iPhone app store to comply with censorship demandChina ordered
China ordered Apple to remove some of the world’s most popular chat messaging apps from its app store in the country, the latest example of censorship demands on the iPhone seller in the company’s second-biggest market.
WhatsApp and Threads as well as messaging platforms Signal and Telegram were taken off the Chinese App Store Friday.
Apple said it was told to remove certain apps because of national security concerns, without specifying which.
These messaging apps, which allow users to exchange messages and share files individually and in large groups, combined have around three billion users globally. They can only be accessed in China through virtual private networks that take users outside China’s Great Firewall, but are still commonly used.
Beijing has often viewed such platforms with caution, concerned that these apps could be used by its citizens to spread negative content and cause social unrest. Much of the news China censors at home often makes it beyond the Great Firewall through such channels.
The Cyberspace Administration of China asked Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store because both contain political content that includes problematic mentions of the Chinese president, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Apple spokesperson said that wasn’t part of the reasoning.
The move shrinks the number of foreign chat apps Chinese internet users can use to commun…
Apps such as X were key to disseminating information and videos of protests against Covid rules in China that erupted in late 2022.
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@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How important is it for people to have access to uncensored information, even if it challenges the views of their government?
@9LNXGKM2yrs2Y
It is important that censorship is limited as much as possible
@9LNN3D42yrs2Y
It depends on the context of the information. If it is something offensive or downright harmful, then nobody should have access to it.
@9LNVMQ52yrs2Y
I don't believe that that is at all important at this stage
Peoploe will always have access to uncensored information, there's no way for anyone to stop it. But in terms of what information is actively pushed forward and promoted to people, it is important for a government to control that to stop the spread of harmful ideas.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If you had to choose between safety and free access to information, which would you prioritize and why?
@9LNN3D42yrs2Y
I don't think China should have some of the most popular messaging apps, but if I had to choose, it would be safety. Rather than removing them, I think they should take more responsibility on what value people using it will be getting and put out some restrictions on what they should be allowed to post.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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